Edmonton’s Ukrainian National Federation Hall vandalized with swastika – Edmonton

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) is asking for police to analyze the vandalism of Edmonton’s Ukrainian Nationwide Federation Corridor (UNF) as a doable hate crime.

On Friday, folks concerned with the UNF discovered swastikas spraypainted on the constructing itself in addition to on a “Cease Putin, Cease Conflict” banner hanging simply subsequent to the constructing.

Marco Levytsky, a spokesperson for the UNF in Edmonton, stated somebody obtained a photograph of the suspect vandalizing the constructing however the vandal was sporting a hood. He stated the picture suggests it occurred at about 3 a.m.

“It’s disgusting,” he stated. “It is a hatred image.

“We’ll simply have to scrub it up.”

Levytsky stated the UNF has been “spearheading and dealing with and organizing the welcoming committee for Ukrainian refugees coming into Edmonton,” and that lots of have already arrived within the metropolis for the reason that navy invasion started.

“We’re not going to be stopped,” he stated, indicating he believes the vandal aimed to intimidate the group. “(Ukrainains arriving in Edmonton) have been listening to that Nazi lie on a regular basis, so they won’t be stunned.”

“That is clearly an act aimed toward intimidating the Ukrainian-Canadian group who’ve been standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians defending in opposition to Russia’s genocidal
struggle,” the UCC stated in a press release issued Friday.

An Edmonton Police Service spokesperson advised World Information it obtained a report concerning the vandalism seen on the central Edmonton constructing and is trying into it.

They stated as a result of it’s nonetheless “very early within the investigation,” they might not remark additional.

In its assertion issued Friday, the UCC stated ever since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started almost three months in the past, “there was a pointy uptick in harassment, violence and intimidation in opposition to Ukrainian-Canadians throughout the nation.”

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“This newest vandalism comes on the heels of an April 20 arson assault on a Ukrainian Catholic Priest and his household in Victoria,” reads the assertion, which was signed by the president of the UCC’s Alberta Provincial Council, the president of the UCC’s Edmonton department and the president of the Ukrainian Nationwide Federation. “These incidents have occurred throughout the nation focusing on Ukrainian group services and church buildings in addition to non-public property.

“Given this improve in violence, we name on regulation enforcement companies to work carefully with the Ukrainian group to make sure the continued security of individuals and property and the prosecution of the perpetrators to the fullest extent of the regulation.”

READ MORE: Extra Edmonton houses wanted to host Ukrainian households fleeing struggle

Levytsky stated whereas he doesn’t know who could have been behind the vandalism, he’s satisfied it’s the work of “somebody who is clearly influenced by Russian propaganda.”

“(I consider) Russian propaganda’s behind this,” he stated, noting Ukraine’s president is Jewish and was handed a landslide electoral win by Ukrainians.

Levytsky added that with ongoing actions being taken by Russia in Ukraine leading to excessive numbers of civilian deaths, it disturbs him to see folks serving to Ukrainians fleeing the struggle being focused by vandals.

George Yopyk is a treasurer with the UNF’s Edmonton department and a former president of it.

“It’s unbelievable,” he stated. “It is extremely critical.

“I don’t perceive why folks do stuff like this.”

He famous that he doesn’t consider the vandalism displays badly on town as Edmontonians as a complete have come collectively to assist Ukrainians fleeing the violence.